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termination vs. resignation

by arobag

Aug 4, 2012

Hi. I need some help with my situation. I was recently terminated after 4 years of teaching. I received a nice evaluation from my principal and I was told that she needed to let me go. Later I found out that our program needed to open a bilingual classroom based on our student population. So basically they need my position for a teacher who speaks ...See More

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Teachers better get used to being abused. You resign, you quit. You quit the job, you do not get unemployment. If your program was terminated and you did not have a job, that is not your fault and you are LAID OFF. Not fired. You can only be fired for misconduct or refusal to work. You don't have seniority in your district?

On 8/04/12, anon wrote: > On 8/04/12, arobag wrote: &...See MoreYou resign, you quit. You quit the job, you do not get unemployment. If your program was terminated and you did not have a job, that is not your fault and you are LAID OFF. Not fired. You can only be fired for misconduct or refusal to work. You don't have seniority in your district?

On 8/04/12, anon wrote: > On 8/04/12, arobag wrote: >> Hi. I need some help with my situation. I was recently >> terminated after 4 years of teaching. I received a nice >> evaluation from my principal and I was told that she needed >> to let me go. Later I found out that our program needed to >> open a bilingual classroom based on our student population. >> So basically they need my position for a teacher who speaks >> Spanish. I was offered to resign to keep a clean record. >> Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to research what's >> the best thing to do in a situation like mine and I >> resigned. My principal gave me a VERY nice letter of >> recommendation. My question is what is my chance collecting >> unemployment? I know that the fact that I resigned will >> prevent me to collect unemployment but can I appeal and say >> that I was forced to resign? Also, what are my chances to >> get another job? On job applications I say that my reason >> fro leaving is unstable position due to grant cut. This is >> true because I was laid off and hired back twice because of >> unknown grant status. > > Moral of the story: NEVER, ever resign. Most fired teachers > aren't fired for any real "transgressions" anyway. Those > would be on a criminal database or show up on a license > search. I don't know WHY teachers think resigning gives them > a "clean" record when in fact most applications ASK whether > you have resigned in lieu of a dismissal. In other school > districts' eyes, a resignation in lieu of a dismissal is an > admission of guilt of whatever stupid thing the principal > alleges. It's worse than being terminated unless that > termination is for criminal misconduct. A principal's letter > of recommendation is no guarantee that principal won't > blackball you anyway when you apply and are interviewed for > jobs in a different district. > > By the way, don't lie on a job application. Just say "job > ended" when it asks "reasons for leaving." However, if that > application asks if you resigned in lieu of dismissal, you > better tell the truth because if you are hired and for some > reason a district wants to get rid of you, the truth will come > out, and you could have sanctions on your license that you > WON'T be able to lie about. > > Contact your state employment office and ask. And use a > lawyer in case the district challenges it. DON'T rely on any > union to tell you the truth. Mine lied about my eligibility > (I was in a different state). By the way, where WAS your > union when you were forced out, apparently illegally

Sep 9, 2012

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anon You can be fired for any reason at all; all an administrator and school district has to do is cook charges to get rid of a teacher and rig the legal process. "Tenure" doesn't protect you at all but protects school districts from more civil lawsuits by putting a brake on a principal's worst impulses. However, since principals are never closely super...See MoreYou can be fired for any reason at all; all an administrator and school district has to do is cook charges to get rid of a teacher and rig the legal process. "Tenure" doesn't protect you at all but protects school districts from more civil lawsuits by putting a brake on a principal's worst impulses. However, since principals are never closely supervised, they pretty can do whatever the hell they want.

I was fired literally over nothing worth even having a reprimand, let alone a termination. The jerks who did it were merely covering up for their own malfeasance when THEY screwed up with me.

BTW, a nonrenewal is the same as being fired. It isn't a layoff.

You can, of course, get unemployment in a termination (as long as it isn't for "gross misconduct"), and sometimes even if you are forced to quit.

On 9/09/12, Teachers better get used to being abused. wrote: > You resign, you quit. You quit the job, you do not get > unemployment. If your program was terminated and you did not have > a job, that is not your fault and you are LAID OFF. Not fired. > You can only be fired for misconduct or refusal to work. You > don't have seniority in your district? > > > On 8/04/12, anon wrote: >> On 8/04/12, arobag wrote: >>> Hi. I need some help with my situation. I was recently >>> terminated after 4 years of teaching. I received a nice >>> evaluation from my principal and I was told that she needed >>> to let me go. Later I found out that our program needed to >>> open a bilingual classroom based on our student population. >>> So basically they need my position for a teacher who speaks >>> Spanish. I was offered to resign to keep a clean record. >>> Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to research what's >>> the best thing to do in a situation like mine and I >>> resigned. My principal gave me a VERY nice letter of >>> recommendation. My question is what is my chance collecting >>> unemployment? I know that the fact that I resigned will >>> prevent me to collect unemployment but can I appeal and say >>> that I was forced to resign? Also, what are my chances to >>> get another job? On job applications I say that my reason >>> fro leaving is unstable position due to grant cut. This is >>> true because I was laid off and hired back twice because of >>> unknown grant status. >> >> Moral of the story: NEVER, ever resign. Most fired teachers >> aren't fired for any real "transgressions" anyway. Those >> would be on a criminal database or show up on a license >> search. I don't know WHY teachers think resigning gives them >> a "clean" record when in fact most applications ASK whether >> you have resigned in lieu of a dismissal. In other school >> districts' eyes, a resignation in lieu of a dismissal is an >> admission of guilt of whatever stupid thing the principal >> alleges. It's worse than being terminated unless that >> termination is for criminal misconduct. A principal's letter >> of recommendation is no guarantee that principal won't >> blackball you anyway when you apply and are interviewed for >> jobs in a different district. >> >> By the way, don't lie on a job application. Just say "job >> ended" when it asks "reasons for leaving." However, if that >> application asks if you resigned in lieu of dismissal, you >> better tell the truth because if you are hired and for some >> reason a district wants to get rid of you, the truth will come >> out, and you could have sanctions on your license that you >> WON'T be able to lie about. >> >> Contact your state employment office and ask. And use a >> lawyer in case the district challenges it. DON'T rely on > any >> union to tell you the truth. Mine lied about my eligibility >> (I was in a different state). By the way, where WAS your >> union when you were forced out, apparently illegally

Sep 10, 2012

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termination vs. resignation

by arobag

Aug 4, 2012

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termination vs. resignation

by arobag

Aug 4, 2012

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Not one interview?!

by soloadventuregirl

Aug 7, 2012

I was a classroom teacher for 14 years before leaving for 3 years to work with numerous school districts on health and wellness. I have been looking to return to classroom teaching since Oct of 2011. So far, I have applied for about a dozen teaching positions in my area of Southern Illinois, Carbondale area. I have not received one single call for ...See More

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Hollywood You've applied for only a dozen teaching positions in 10 months? Maybe you should cast a wider net.

Don't take things personally or try to blame the districts on irrelevant factors. That won't get you anywhere. Call schools directly and ask if they have positions available.

You didn't say what position you're looking for. If it'...See More

Aug 10, 2012

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Advice on Passing the APT (K-9) Test

by Lydia

Aug 27, 2012

I just finished college in May, received my degree and got a job in a daycare. However, I have not passed my APT test yet. I'm really getting worried; I have taken the test three times and haven't passed it yet. The first time I took it, I was just starting my student teaching and didn't do well. My total score was 225. I took it right away again i...See More

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Lydia There are two writing questions, one for planning and implementing instruction and the other for managing the learning environment. With the writing now, it asks you usually to write out a lesson plan, and how would you handle a given situation in your classroom. The writing isn't a problem for me (even though I don't like the fact that I only have...See MoreThere are two writing questions, one for planning and implementing instruction and the other for managing the learning environment. With the writing now, it asks you usually to write out a lesson plan, and how would you handle a given situation in your classroom. The writing isn't a problem for me (even though I don't like the fact that I only have two pages to write each response on); it's the multiple choice that I have trouble on. Yes, it is an idiotic test, and each time that I've taken it, I've finished in three hours. How did you study? I've heard of people not even studying for the test and passing it without a problem.

On 8/28/12, tyler wrote: > Michael is right. It is all about the student for that test. It > is also a really dumb test. I don't know what it is like now but > when I took it (2006ish, might have been 2007) There were > questions like, "Which direction do you load a CD in a CD > player?" and crap like that. If there is still a writing portion > of the test, make sure you know your IL learning standards. Use > numbers and the actual wording from the standards to support you > lessons. > > On 8/28/12, Michael wrote: >> Always choose the most student centric answer. >> >> On 8/27/12, Lydia wrote: >>> I just finished college in May, received my degree and got >>> a job in a daycare. However, I have not passed my APT test >>> yet. I'm really getting worried; I have taken the test >>> three times and haven't passed it yet. The first time I >>> took it, I was just starting my student teaching and didn't >>> do well. My total score was 225. I took it right away again >>> in April and missed passing by one point (score was 239). I >>> wasn't able to take in June because of the emergency >>> registration period, so I signed up to take it in July. At >>> the time that I was preparing for the test, I was also >>> babysitting my two nephews and I feel that I didn't have >>> enough time to prepare. When I received my scores in >>> August, my score was 227. I'm at my wit's end with this >>> test. I know I can do the work in the classroom and have >>> proved it in my experiences, so why can't I pass this test? >>> I have tried searching for other resources besides what's >>> on the ICTS website and have found a study guide book >>> that's getting mixed reviews. Not sure if I should buy it >>> or not. I've also requested a rescore of the April test, >>> and the original score was confirmed, so I'm out another >>> $50. I'm looking for any advice that can help me with >>> preparing and passing the test. Anything would help at this >>> point. Thanks!

Aug 28, 2012

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Hollywood It's not a test you study for, per se. You've been through your coursework and student teaching, so you should already know generally what you need to know to answer the questions. The other posters are right: choose the most student-centric answer (or as I say, choose the answer that makes the most work for the teacher! :) You might need some help...See MoreIt's not a test you study for, per se. You've been through your coursework and student teaching, so you should already know generally what you need to know to answer the questions. The other posters are right: choose the most student-centric answer (or as I say, choose the answer that makes the most work for the teacher! :) You might need some help with taking standardized tests in general. Check out some resources by Princeton Review and look at what they have to say about dealing with multiple-choice questions. Just about any standardized test is written in the same way, so you can look at the book for GRE, SAT, etc. Using process of elimination is key. Take that advice, and apply it to the practice APT questions that ISBE (or whoever actually administers the test) provides. Doing this will help make the right answer literally pop out at you.

On 8/28/12, Lydia wrote: > There are two writing questions, one for planning and implementing > instruction and the other for managing the learning environment. > With the writing now, it asks you usually to write out a lesson > plan, and how would you handle a given situation in your classroom. > The writing isn't a problem for me (even though I don't like the > fact that I only have two pages to write each response on); it's > the multiple choice that I have trouble on. Yes, it is an idiotic > test, and each time that I've taken it, I've finished in three > hours. How did you study? I've heard of people not even studying > for the test and passing it without a problem. > > On 8/28/12, tyler wrote: >> Michael is right. It is all about the student for that test. It >> is also a really dumb test. I don't know what it is like now but >> when I took it (2006ish, might have been 2007) There were >> questions like, "Which direction do you load a CD in a CD >> player?" and crap like that. If there is still a writing portion >> of the test, make sure you know your IL learning standards. Use >> numbers and the actual wording from the standards to support you >> lessons. >> >> On 8/28/12, Michael wrote: >>> Always choose the most student centric answer. >>> >>> On 8/27/12, Lydia wrote: >>>> I just finished college in May, received my degree and got >>>> a job in a daycare. However, I have not passed my APT test >>>> yet. I'm really getting worried; I have taken the test >>>> three times and haven't passed it yet. The first time I >>>> took it, I was just starting my student teaching and didn't >>>> do well. My total score was 225. I took it right away again >>>> in April and missed passing by one point (score was 239). I >>>> wasn't able to take in June because of the emergency >>>> registration period, so I signed up to take it in July. At >>>> the time that I was preparing for the test, I was also >>>> babysitting my two nephews and I feel that I didn't have >>>> enough time to prepare. When I received my scores in >>>> August, my score was 227. I'm at my wit's end with this >>>> test. I know I can do the work in the classroom and have >>>> proved it in my experiences, so why can't I pass this test? >>>> I have tried searching for other resources besides what's >>>> on the ICTS website and have found a study guide book >>>> that's getting mixed reviews. Not sure if I should buy it >>>> or not. I've also requested a rescore of the April test, >>>> and the original score was confirmed, so I'm out another >>>> $50. I'm looking for any advice that can help me with >>>> preparing and passing the test. Anything would help at this >>>> point. Thanks!

Aug 29, 2012

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LBS 1 minutes

by lynn

Aug 31, 2012

Can a paraprofessional cover minutes for a LBS1 if there isn't teaching assitant minutes in the iep.

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IL SPED As a classroom TA when the LBSI is providing services in another class, or 1:1?

On 8/31/12, lynn wrote: > Can a paraprofessional cover minutes for a LBS1 if there > isn't teaching assitant minutes in the iep.

Sep 3, 2012

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sped On 8/31/12, lynn wrote: > Can a paraprofessional cover minutes for a LBS1 if there > isn't teaching assitant minutes in the iep.

No. If the minutes call for a special ed teacher to provide the minutes, then a sped teacher has to do it. Now, if a sped teacher is in, say, an ED room teaching three kids math, and another student gets an...See More

Sep 21, 2012

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LBS 1 minutes

by lynn

Aug 31, 2012

Can a paraprofessional cover minutes for a LBS1 if there isn't teaching assitant minutes in the iep.

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Kathy araprofessionals/teaching assistants cannot cover for certified teachers, even if a para/teaching assistant is on the IEP. Now, if the para is being supervised by a certified teacher who has line of sight to the student being taught, she/he can provide service to the students. My paras cover academic programming on a 1:1 basis for my low incidence ...See More

Sep 17, 2012

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Chicago teachers' strike. What are the issues?

by Anyone from Chicago willing to state your issues?

Sep 10, 2012

What are teachers saying?

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Michael The 5:45 has been latched onto as a talking point that only tells half the truth. Teachers had a 7 hour day. They arrived 30 minutes before students and didn't have lunch until AFTER the students left. Since their lunch was their own, they were allowed to leave after having been on campus 6:15. These may sound like great perks and in some ways they...See MoreThe 5:45 has been latched onto as a talking point that only tells half the truth. Teachers had a 7 hour day. They arrived 30 minutes before students and didn't have lunch until AFTER the students left. Since their lunch was their own, they were allowed to leave after having been on campus 6:15. These may sound like great perks and in some ways they were, but those same teachers were only given three 40 minute prep periods during a week. They worked hard. Student lunch tended to be about 20 minutes. No recess.

Furthermore, there are well over 100 elementary schools that don't have playground space. Kids have no place to have a recess.

All that's really changed is that lunch moved to the middle of the day and teachers are supposed to have an average of 320 minutes of prep per week. It's a bunch of accounting games that allow sound bytes.

On 9/19/12, WOW wrote: > Godo for the teachers they deserve it. But I must ask what the heck is > up with the short school days to begin with? I have never heard of > such a thing in any place I have ever lived. Every where I have ever > been school days have always been at least 7 hours for the children. > ANything less is just crazy. I agree teachers need a raise but only if > their work days are full days. That short of a day has me thinking > they were being over paid to begin with. When we figure in cost of > living for big cities comapared to other places they are paid about the > same as any other teacher in the nation. But those short days make > them over paid compared to teachers working 7 to 8 hour school days > with kids in the class room. > > > On 9/11/12, Elaine wrote: >> Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post's blog "The Answer Sheet" has >> a very concise review of the issues. Salary is one but not the only >> point. Most are different that what teachers everywhere are facing. >> >> Chicago teachers strike: The issues By Valerie Strauss The teachers >> strike in Chicago, the third largest public school district in the >> country with some 350,000 students, is about more than money. >> >> For the first time, teachers in a major school district have walked >> off Teacher Jillian Connolly helps her daughter, Mary, study math >> problems while picketing outside of the William H.Wells Community >> High School in Chicago. (Scott Olson/GETTY IMAGES) the job in part >> to challenge some of the key tenets of modern school reform that >> have been advanced by the Obama administration and by Chicago Mayor >> Rahm Emanuel, who was once President Obama’s chief of staff. >> >> In fact, Karen Lewis, the head of the teachers union, said the two >> sides were close to agreement on financial matters, but other issues >> remain outstanding. >> >> While no other teachers union has gone on strike in solidarity, they >> will be watching to see how this turns out. >> >> More than 26,000 teachers and other unionized school personnel went >> on strike Monday for the first time in 25 years after the Chicago >> Teachers Union could not reach a contract agreement with Emanuel and >> the school district’s leadership. >> >> In July, the two sides had reached an interim agreement on a longer >> school day, about 90 more minutes a day for elementary school >> students, who had the shortest day of any big city in the country. >> The pact called for the hiring of new teachers, but how they would >> be hired has become a sticking point: by seniority from a pool of >> laid- off teachers, as the union wants, or by principal discretion, >> as Emanuel wants. >> >> There are a number of key issues on the table, including: >> >> * Standardized tests and teacher assessment. This is one of the >> biggest issues in public school reform. A number of states have >> passed laws — including Illinois — that require teacher evaluations >> to be based in some large measure on their students standardized >> test scores. Assessment experts have said repeatedly this is a bad >> idea — including a group of Illinois researchers and academics > who >> sent an open letter last March to Emanuel school officials warning >> against implementing a teacher evaluation system based on >> standardized test scores. But Emanuel is insisting anyway, and in >> fact wants to the scores to count for more than the state law says. >> >> * Merit pay: This is another big issue in school reform. Emanuel is >> one of a number of reformers trying to institute a pay system that >> rewards teachers financially for excellence, which is determined >> mostly by standardized test scores. Merit pay systems have been >> tried over the years and have never worked well for teachers for >> various reasons. Emanuel already unveiled a merit pay system for >> principals that includes the use of test scores to assess how well >> a principal is doing. >> >> * Charter schools and teacher placement: Emanuel wants to expand the >> number of public charter schools, in which some 50,000 Chicago >> students now attend. Most of the city’s charter schools have no >> unions and the union is worried that with declining student >> population as well as poor academic performance, many traditional >> public schools will be closed and unionized teachers will lose their >> jobs. The charter schools overall have a mixed academic record, but >> Emanuel, as well as school reformers in other cities, look on them >> as one of the things that will improve public education. Critics >> don’t agree. >> >> * Salaries: Emanuel promised a 4 percent pay raise to teachers last >> year but dropped that to 2 percent a year for four years because of >> the district’s dire financial situation. The school district >> negotiators raised the offer to 3 percent a year over four years in >> a new offer made to the union Sunday, Reuters said. How much do >> Chicago teachers earn now? More than teachers in Los Angeles, but a >> little less than in New York City with a mean of $61,790 annually >> for a primary school teacher to $69,470 for high school, Reuters >> reported. Chicago Public schools say the average teacher makes >> $76,000. >> >> * Underfunded pension fund: Chicago has the most underfunded state >> pension system in the nation, according to Reuters, at a time when >> many teachers are retiring >> >> Follow The Answer Sheet every day by bookmarking >> [link removed]

Sep 20, 2012

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Grrrrrr!!!! What the media fails to mention time and time again is that the 5.75 day WAS ONLY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!!!! They made it sound like ALL CPS schools were shortchanged, when high schools had a day comparable in length to most suburban schools. My school's day was 6.75 hours last year; I did a spot-check of schools in the burbs and found that schools...See MoreWhat the media fails to mention time and time again is that the 5.75 day WAS ONLY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!!!! They made it sound like ALL CPS schools were shortchanged, when high schools had a day comparable in length to most suburban schools. My school's day was 6.75 hours last year; I did a spot-check of schools in the burbs and found that schools that had longer days also had longer lunch or advisory periods, more passing time, and/or an optional extra period for kids in AP and other programs. It was the same time for the high school I attended and a high school I taught at in another state. So our day was lengthened by 30 minutes...not too bad, but the kids also have 5 more minutes in lunch and more passing time. So that means that they only get an extra 3 or 4 minutes in each class period. Also, creating a balanced schedule took many hours of work on the part of our administrative staff that could have been spent on better initiatives, especially when several drafts had to be thrown out because CPS kept changing the parameters.

On 9/20/12, Michael wrote: > The 5:45 has been latched onto as a talking point that only tells half the > truth. Teachers had a 7 hour day. They arrived 30 minutes before students > and didn't have lunch until AFTER the students left. Since their lunch was > their own, they were allowed to leave after having been on campus 6:15. > These may sound like great perks and in some ways they were, but those > same teachers were only given three 40 minute prep periods during a week. > They worked hard. Student lunch tended to be about 20 minutes. No recess. > > Furthermore, there are well over 100 elementary schools that don't have > playground space. Kids have no place to have a recess. > > All that's really changed is that lunch moved to the middle of the day and > teachers are supposed to have an average of 320 minutes of prep per week. > It's a bunch of accounting games that allow sound bytes. > > > On 9/19/12, WOW wrote: >> Godo for the teachers they deserve it. But I must ask what the heck is >> up with the short school days to begin with? I have never heard of >> such a thing in any place I have ever lived. Every where I have ever >> been school days have always been at least 7 hours for the children. >> ANything less is just crazy. I agree teachers need a raise but only if >> their work days are full days. That short of a day has me thinking >> they were being over paid to begin with. When we figure in cost of >> living for big cities comapared to other places they are paid about the >> same as any other teacher in the nation. But those short days make >> them over paid compared to teachers working 7 to 8 hour school days >> with kids in the class room. >> >> >> On 9/11/12, Elaine wrote: >>> Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post's blog "The Answer Sheet" has >>> a very concise review of the issues. Salary is one but not the only >>> point. Most are different that what teachers everywhere are facing. >>> >>> Chicago teachers strike: The issues By Valerie Strauss The teachers >>> strike in Chicago, the third largest public school district in the >>> country with some 350,000 students, is about more than money. >>> >>> For the first time, teachers in a major school district have walked >>> off Teacher Jillian Connolly helps her daughter, Mary, study math >>> problems while picketing outside of the William H.Wells Community >>> High School in Chicago. (Scott Olson/GETTY IMAGES) the job in part >>> to challenge some of the key tenets of modern school reform that >>> have been advanced by the Obama administration and by Chicago Mayor >>> Rahm Emanuel, who was once President Obama’s chief of staff. >>> >>> In fact, Karen Lewis, the head of the teachers union, said the two >>> sides were close to agreement on financial matters, but other issues >>> remain outstanding. >>> >>> While no other teachers union has gone on strike in solidarity, they >>> will be watching to see how this turns out. >>> >>> More than 26,000 teachers and other unionized school personnel went >>> on strike Monday for the first time in 25 years after the Chicago >>> Teachers Union could not reach a contract agreement with Emanuel and >>> the school district’s leadership. >>> >>> In July, the two sides had reached an interim agreement on a longer >>> school day, about 90 more minutes a day for elementary school >>> students, who had the shortest day of any big city in the country. >>> The pact called for the hiring of new teachers, but how they would >>> be hired has become a sticking point: by seniority from a pool of >>> laid- off teachers, as the union wants, or by principal discretion, >>> as Emanuel wants. >>> >>> There are a number of key issues on the table, including: >>> >>> * Standardized tests and teacher assessment. This is one of the >>> biggest issues in public school reform. A number of states have >>> passed laws — including Illinois — that require teacher evaluations >>> to be based in some large measure on their students standardized >>> test scores. Assessment experts have said repeatedly this is a bad >>> idea — including a group of Illinois researchers and academics >> who >>> sent an open letter last March to Emanuel school officials warning >>> against implementing a teacher evaluation system based on >>> standardized test scores. But Emanuel is insisting anyway, and in >>> fact wants to the scores to count for more than the state law says. >>> >>> * Merit pay: This is another big issue in school reform. Emanuel is >>> one of a number of reformers trying to institute a pay system that >>> rewards teachers financially for excellence, which is determined >>> mostly by standardized test scores. Merit pay systems have been >>> tried over the years and have never worked well for teachers for >>> various reasons. Emanuel already unveiled a merit pay system for >>> principals that includes the use of test scores to assess how well >>> a principal is doing. >>> >>> * Charter schools and teacher placement: Emanuel wants to expand the >>> number of public charter schools, in which some 50,000 Chicago >>> students now attend. Most of the city’s charter schools have no >>> unions and the union is worried that with declining student >>> population as well as poor academic performance, many traditional >>> public schools will be closed and unionized teachers will lose their >>> jobs. The charter schools overall have a mixed academic record, but >>> Emanuel, as well as school reformers in other cities, look on them >>> as one of the things that will improve public education. Critics >>> don’t agree. >>> >>> * Salaries: Emanuel promised a 4 percent pay raise to teachers last >>> year but dropped that to 2 percent a year for four years because of >>> the district’s dire financial situation. The school district >>> negotiators raised the offer to 3 percent a year over four years in >>> a new offer made to the union Sunday, Reuters said. How much do >>> Chicago teachers earn now? More than teachers in Los Angeles, but a >>> little less than in New York City with a mean of $61,790 annually >>> for a primary school teacher to $69,470 for high school, Reuters >>> reported. Chicago Public schools say the average teacher makes >>> $76,000. >>> >>> * Underfunded pension fund: Chicago has the most underfunded state >>> pension system in the nation, according to Reuters, at a time when >>> many teachers are retiring >>> >>> Follow The Answer Sheet every day by bookmarking >>> [link removed]

Sep 20, 2012

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Thank you, Chicago Teachers

by Enough is Enough

Sep 13, 2012

Thank you to all Chicago teachers who have been willing to stand up and say, "Enough is enough." Teacher evaluations based on issues beyond a teacher's control are absurd, and that is exactly what happens when you make test scores the end-all for evaluations, promotions, etc. Is that really the kind of classroom situation that we want for our child...See More

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sped On 10/19/12, Michael wrote:

> SPED: Thank you for fighting this troll. I wish I could buy > you a beer. You've earned it. Eventually he will tire and > disappear and we'll be back to questions about how to get > an IL certificate. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Y'know. Somehow, in the last several years, teacher...See More

Oct 19, 2012

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Merrill On 10/19/12, sped wrote: > On 10/19/12, Michael wrote: > >> SPED: Thank you for fighting this troll. I wish I could buy >> you a beer. You've earned it. Eventually he will tire and >> disappear and we'll be back to questions about how to get >> an IL certificate. Thank you. > > You're welcome. > > Y'know. S...See MoreOn 10/19/12, sped wrote: > On 10/19/12, Michael wrote: > >> SPED: Thank you for fighting this troll. I wish I could buy >> you a beer. You've earned it. Eventually he will tire and >> disappear and we'll be back to questions about how to get >> an IL certificate. Thank you. > > You're welcome. > > Y'know. Somehow, in the last several years, teachers have gone > from underpaid, to overpaid..., and our pay hasn't been going up > all that much. > > There have always been people who don't respect teachers. The > kind of people who go on about "those who can't teach," the > people who just didn't like school and teachers as kids, or the > types who are just envious of summers off (though not able or > willing to actually become a teacher). However, in the last few > years, somehow educators became lazy, rich, and are even hurting > kids!? We're working harder than ever, with fewer people and > resources than ever before. > > The only times I've ever seen teachers regularly clock out right > at their contractual ending time was after a non-tenured teacher > had been non-renewed or after someone had resigned for the > following year for whatever reason. Even that was rare. I could > visit any of our schools at 5 o'clock on any given day (2 and a > half hours after dismissal) and find about half of our teachers > still there. I have teachers regularly ASK me to schedule > meetings after or before school because they don't want to miss > class time, even though their contract says I'm supposed to get > them a sub and hold the meeting during the school-day. I've had > teachers come to me and complain that they can't get in the > building to work during Spring Break. This concept of a lazy, > clock-watching teacher just doesn't exist in my world. I'd like > the Waiting for Superman guys to come by my district and roll > some tape. Or the district I previously worked with. Strangely, > they don't...

I never said all teachers were lazy: I said some teachers are lazy and can't teach.

The problem is not the teachers, it is the union that protects teachers who are lazy, can't teach, and in some cases are a danger to the students. You would be pretty pissed off if your son was in a classroom where the teacher was inept, or worse, in a classroom where the teacher was a sex offender, and there was nothing you could do about it.

You need to wake up and smell the coffee: it isn't right-wingers bringing up this debate, it is people in the Democratic Party, people on the left, who are tired of this blank check that has been given to a union that acts against the public interest.

It is especially bad when we have administrators, who are supposed to be acting on behalf of the community and the taxpayers, acting as union shills on Internet message boards.

Oct 22, 2012

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